FLAMENGO DISCLOSES NEW CS:GO TEAM

Controversies always seem to surround Flamengo, and yet another unexpected piece of news involving the club came to light this Wednesday (18), this time related to women's football. Rubro-Negro was condemned by the courts in a case brought by six former players, with a decision that surprised everyone.

The action, which had been ongoing since 2021, resulted in a conviction worth R$3.2 million. According to information from Uol, the names of the players were not revealed, but they were released during the reformulation of the sport in 2022 and were seeking recognition of a professional bond with Flamengo.

Flamengo, which maintains a partnership with the Brazilian Navy did not pay the athletes directly, as they were third sergeants. They played for the club between 2015 and 2021, a period in which they won the Brazilian Women's Championship. However, the players argued that the practice adopted by the club and the Navy was irregular, according to the partnership contract.

“An item in the cooperation term made it clear that the Navy would not provide financial resources, nor would it carry out the direct transfer of facilities. Flamengo was intentionally omitted to pay the athletes”, guarantees lawyer Rafael Cunha.

Despite the initial decision, Flamengo can still appeal. The Regional Labor Court of Rio de Janeiro unanimously understood that Flamengo benefited from the situation and determined that the club must record the athletes' contributions in their Work Cards, in addition to paying the due salaries and other labor obligations.

In addition to these six players, eight others also filed lawsuits against Flamengo for the same reason, but their trials have not yet taken place. In response to Uol, the club commented on the case:

“Of the nine legal actions involving former Navy athletes and coaches, eight had court decisions removing the employment relationship with the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, considering that these are exclusively third-level Navy sergeants”, he says.

Last week, children who practice judo in the social project Jogaremos Juntos, promoted by Flamengo's Social Responsibility, had an unforgettable experience. They visited the club's headquarters, in Gávea, and trained alongside Flamengo's judo teachers and athletes, experiencing a day full of learning, discipline and sportsmanship.

In total, 70 children, from centers of Cantagalo and Queimados, had the chance to practice judo under the guidance of high-level professionals, reinforcing the values ​​of the sport, such as respect, determination and teamwork.

At the dojô, the children were welcomed by the coach of the under-13 and under-15 red-black judo teams, Rodrigo Domiciano, who, together with club athletes, shared his experiences and spoke about the importance of dedication to progress in the sport. “In the midst of so many negative references, it is essential that these children have positive references. Here they can see that it is possible to reach a higher degree, seek a black belt, seek important competitions and this will change their realities”, he said.

For many, the day was a unique opportunity to become inspire, dream big and continue following the path of sport. “The children came very excited. They've been talking about coming here to Flamengo for a week. It's important for them to be here, in a different place, with so much structure... This all makes them want to dedicate themselves more”, said professor Alves, who teaches judo at Jogaremos Juntos - Núcleo Queimados. Cantagalo resident Leda Maria Pereira de Macedo, mother of student Davi, added. “Children who live in communities need sports so they don't get lost and judo has already got my son back on track. He now has discipline, he has become another child! Davi takes a shower, goes to bed early... I'm very happy. I'm very grateful to have the project there”, she praised.

With its own methodology, Jogaremos Juntos is an education project through sport, based on socio-emotional skills. Through it, children and young people have the opportunity to work on self-knowledge, resilience, empathy, focus and other skills that they learn from sports and put into practice to face and overcome challenges in life, whether at school, in family or with friends.

In total, the project serves 800 children in six communities in Rio de Janeiro - Cantagalo Pavão Pavãozinho, Complexo do Alemão, Vila Aliança, Morro do Banco, Santa Cruz and Queimados - with classes football, judo, basketball, artistic gymnastics and volleyball. The project is encouraged by the Federal Sports Incentive Law and has Shell as a sponsor.

This Friday, Flamengo eSports announced a reformulation of its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) team. The new hires, who arrive to restructure the team, are Alexandre "ALLE," Antonio "realz1n," Daniel "danoco," Felipe "RICIOLI," and Victor "remix." Furthermore, the team's new coach will be Pedro "sky." This change surprised both fans and former players, who were released just two months after being hired.

The turnaround in Flamengo eSports' ranks came shortly after the departure of Chilean Matias "HUASOPEEK." The team released a note on the old Twitter, stating that HUASOPEEK's departure led to a reevaluation of the strategy, taking into account factors such as the number of players available on the market, time and team chemistry. This culminated in a joint decision with the players that the best approach was to go their separate ways.

HUASOPEEK, who had been loaned from 9z Team, had to return to the Latin American organization due to the unexpected departure of David "dav1deusS." This turn of events forced the player to return and complete the squad for subsequent competitions. The former roster included players like Lucas "steel," Caio "zqk," Vinicius "vinaabEAST," and Victor "vLa." They all now find themselves in a new phase of their careers, after the unexpected dismissal.

Coach Matheus "Kaos" will continue to contribute to the organization, although no longer as coach of the Flamengo eSports main team. His presence will be vital during the transition to the new team. Until the time of the reformulation, the previous team competed in only two championships: the CCT South America Series #11 and the 2nd season of the CBCS 2023, along with other qualifying competitions.

In the CBCS, the team's performance left something to be desired, suffering two defeats in Group A to Meta Gaming and Case Esports, resulting in an early farewell to the tournament with 13th/16th place. In the South American CCT, Flamengo recorded three defeats and a single victory, which culminated in their elimination in the first phase, with a final classification of 18th/20th position.

Rafael "Patron," CEO of Medellin, the team responsible for Rubro-Negro's esports division, expressed its preference for hiring a full team rather than reshaping the squad that had been announced just two months ago. It is worth remembering that the club had already gone through a similar situation in April this year, when it said goodbye to a previous team, five months after hiring, in December 2022.

The reformulation of the CS team: GO of Flamengo eSports marks another chapter in the club's history of ups and downs in esports and leaves fans eager to see how the new players will do in the next competitions. The decision to bet on a renewed team reflects the constant search for excellence and competitiveness, characteristics that the Rio club has always sought in the esports scene. It remains to be seen whether this new formation will be able to achieve the objectives sought by Flamengo eSports.